The Indianapolis journal., 1887-05-16
Senator Blackburn's Left-Handed Indorse-
ment of Gov. Hill, and His Intimation
That New Man May BE Selected.
The. Frail Character of President Cleve-
lands Grip on Southern Democrats.
How the Capitol Building Looks When Con-
gress Is IsAbsent-Progress of the Refurnish-
ing and Washington Notes.
POLITICAL POINTERS.

| Senator Blackburn's Recent Utterances-Pos-
| sibilities About Mr.. Blaine.
| epecial to the Indianapolis JournaI-
| WASHINGTON, May I5-There were two ex-
| pressions uttered by Senator Black burn. in his
| recent interview, that have attracted much
| attention from those here who watching the
swirls and eddies in the stream of national pol
| itics just now. The first feature of the Sena-
tors responses is the left-handed boom he gives
to Governor Hill, of New York. as a home oppo-
nent of the President He intimates most un-
nistakably that he considers Governor Hill a
stronger mau than the President, and what he
says leads every one to the belief that il the
Senator was permitted to select the next Demo
cratic candidate for the presidency, he
would prefer Hill to Cleveland. Nor
is Blackburn singular in this respect from
other Southern Democrats. The Democrats
of the South have gor about all they can
get out of the President, and it is not strange
that they looking about for new orange to
squeeze for the next four years from March 4,
1889. Nor is it strange that Blackburn says
that it may turn out yet that the party will
have to throw Cleveland and Hill both over
board in order to prevent squabble Outsiv-
ings OF Southern Democrats who have visited
the capital since Congress adjourned convince
close observers that the South's indorse ment of
Cleveland for denomination is merely perfume
tory, and that Southern Democrats would desert
him in shoals for any body who they might
conclude could command more votes than he
could. IL such man should appear the South
would bid Cleveland farewell without either
sobs or tears. With that section it is only
question of votes and not of attachment to the
man from Buffalo.
The other point in the Blackburn interview is
the announcement by him that the time has now
come when of the candidates the Demo
Gratis ticket should be taken from the South.
This proclamation will cold shiver to
gallop over the spine of every Union Democrat
in the country. 1t will be bitter dose for such
men to vote for rank rebel; but they will have
to swallow it or leave the party, however hard
the alternative may be. for in demanding of
the candidates Senator Blackburn means that an
ex-rebel shall be the Democratic nominee for
President or Vice e-president. No other need ap-
ply. And why not? Northern Democrats have
been demanding for moro thaa q decade that
Southern men should no longer be stigmatized
for the part they took in the Rebellion. Should
they not be willing to take dose of their
own medicinel OF course Therefore, let them
swallow it. however nauseous it may be, for the
rebel Democrats furnish the votes to elect the
where the Southern Democrats have a big pull
on their Northern brethren, and the only wonder
is that they have not utilized it long ago. They
have bided their time, for fact, but they think
the biding time is over now; and that rebel
Democrat is just good Union Democrat,
il not little more
Political wseacres here who think they can
unerringly detect the cause as soon as they see
the defect, are loudly asserting that the recently
adopted trick (patent applied for by Civil-service
Commissioners Oberly and Edgertonl for clean
ing out the executive departments here of all
Republican officials. is the result of the buzzing
of the second term bee in President Cleveland's
bonnet. About a month ago a weIl-known cor
respondent here positively and emphatically
stated that the Pres ident had been brought
the conclusion that it was necessary, in order to
save himself for 1883, to throw overheard his
civil-service penchant and permit a clean sweep
to be mnde everywhere. In view of this
move of Obery and Edgerton, iJ is now believed
that the man spoke by the card when he made
the statement referred to, and that in 1883 the
entire patronage of the government will be used
to elect the Democratic candidate provided that
the candidate is Mr.. Cleveland.
On the other side, those who want to watch
the moves OF the checkers on the Republican
board should keep their eyes on the other side
of the ocean for a while. Mr. Blaine is about to
visit Europe He may travel through the En-
erald Isle If he does. and the Parnel crowd
and the anti-eviction people should capture him,
and he should make such speech as only Mr..
Blaine can, what then2 He would arouse such
enthusiasm among the impulsive people of
old Ireland that it would boil up so high, and
boil over so freely, that it would enlist every
lrishman in the United States for him. creating
such a tornado as would astound the world. is
the prediction of many in Washington to-day
They declare it would insure his election. There
are games and games in politics, and one of the
most wonderful players in the country is now
setting the pieces for 1883. and it will pay the
most astute gamester to watch his moves. He
is well fabricated. and mistake
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